Table.



Nu. 649,666. Patented May I5, |900.. J. E. LONG.

TABLE.

(Application filed Feb. 1 3, 1 900.) (N o M o d el.)

I` im In El STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. LONG, OF CHILLICOTHE, OIllO.

TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 649,666, dated May 15,1900.

Application filed February 13, 1900. Serial No. 5,0923'l (N0 mOClel-l YTo @ZZ whom t ril/ay concern,.-

Beit known that I, JOHN E. LONG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chillicothe, in the county of Ross and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Table, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to tables in general, and more particularly tothe class of folding tables, one object of the invention being toprovide a device of this nature which will be cheap of construction andin which the outline of the table and its superficial area may bechanged with ease and facility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in whichthe folded parts will be held firmly in their folded or unfoldedpositions and in which the appearance of the table will not be marred inwhatever position it may be.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in whichlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure 1 is a plan view of the under side of the table and showing oneof the leaves of the table in its folded position, the other leavesbeing extended. Fig. 2 is a central section of the table, taken from thecenter thereof outwardly through one of the extended leaves. Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 2 and showing the leaf folded. Fig. 4 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2 and showing the side of the table lowered preparatoryto folding the leaf under the top of thetable. Fig. 5 is a section online 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the table of the present inventioncomprises a top portion 10, which is shown as square, although, as willbe readily understood, it may be oblong, triangular, or have the outlineof any other polygon, the extreme corners of the table being shown ascut away in are shape for a purpose which will be presently explained.

To each side edge 11 of the table-top 10 is hinged a segmental leaf 12,these leaves being connected by hinges on their under faces, so thattheir upper faces may lie absolutely flush with the upper surfaces ofthe tabletop when the leaves are brought to lie in the same l plane withthe tabletop. The chords of the segmental leaves are eq ual in length tothe sides 11 of the table-top, while the radii of the arcs of thesesegmental leaves and also of the arc-shaped extreme corners of thetable-top are equal, and thus when the leaves are all raised a circulartable will result. When the table-top is fundamentally oblong, the radiiof the segmental leaves vary, so as to presentan elliptical table whenthe leaves are all raised.

Brace-beams 14 and 15 are secured to the under side of the table-top 10and act to brace the table and prevent warping. They divide the underface of the table-top into trianguu lar inclosures, as shown in Fig. 1of the draw ings. In each of these inclosures is disposed aleaf-supporting arm 17, the inner end of which is disposed in a recessin one of the braces 14 and 15 and has pivotal connection therewith, sothat the outer end of the arm may swing into and out of operativeposition to lie under and against the lower face of its respective leafto support the latter.

Secured to the under faces of the cross braces 14 and 15 are beams 18,that lie parallel with the edges of the table-top, and hinged to each ofthese beams is a table side 19, these table sides being so formed thatwhen in one position they will lie between the outer ends of theirrespective braces, the inner faces of the ends of the side pieces 19being beveled for this purpose. The hinges 20, that hold the side piecesin place, are not connected directly to the side pieces, but instead areattached to blocks 21, which are in turn attached to the side pieces,and thus-when the side pieces are pivotally moved on their hinges theyswing bodily down and away from the table-top, as shown in Fig. 4 of thedlrawings.

Vhen the table-leaves are in their unfolded positions and thesupporting-arms are in engagement therewith, the upper edges of the sidepieces 19 lie against the lower faces of the supporting-arms and act tosupport them midway between their free outer ends and their pivots, sothat the weight of the leaves do not press the arms downward, and theleaves are held securely in their extended positions. In order that theside pieces may be in turn supported, recesses 22 are cut in the facesof the braces 14 and 15 and adjacent their outer ends, and in each ofthese recesses is disposed a spring-latch 23, comprising a spring-platehaving an enlarged head of the IOO usual construction. When the sides 19are raised to lie against the supporting-arms, they snap over the headsof the latch-springs and are supported by the upper faces of the headsthereof in their proper positions.

In order to hold the leaves in their folded positions-that is, lyingagainst the under face of the table-top-each leaf has a recess orperforation 29 in its outer edge, which. recesses are in position toreceive pins 30,carried by the supporting-arms when said arms are movedinwardly to lie wholly beneath the table-top. gagement with theperforations, as also to hold the arms in their extended positions tosupport the leaves, spring-bows 32 are provided, one for eachsupportingarm, and having one end engaged with an adjacent portion of across-brace 14 and 15, respectively, and having its opposite end engagedwith the arm. These springs act also to throw the arms outwardly andinto their operative positions kwhen the leaves are raised or unfolded.

When the leaves are folded to lie beneath the table-top, it is necessarythat some means be provided for preventing the sides 19 from striking orresting against the leaves, and for this purpose pins 33 are carriedbythe crossbraces, as shown, and which pins are engaged by the sides andlimit their upward movements. These pins may be the bolts that securethe spring-latches to the crossbraces.

In order to further hold the supportingarms when they act to hold theleaves in their folded positions, blocks 34 are secured to the braces 14and 15 in position for the free ends of the supporting-arms to passthereunder when the pins thereof are engaged with the perforations inthe edges of the leaves.

` The legs of the table may be secured to the cross-braces in anysuitable manner, or, if preferred, a standard or pedestal may be securedto the central portion thereof.

- From the foregoing it will be seen that with the present structure atable may be made which will be fundamentally square, triangular,oblong, or of any other regular angular outline and that one or moreleaves may be folded or unfolded to cause the table to assume anyspecific shape desired that is within the limits of the structure. Alsowhen the leaves are in their unfolded positions a regular and evensurface is presented, and when the leaves are folded the sides cover theedges of the leaves and prevent an unsightly appearance.

It will of course be understood that in practice any specific shape maybe given to the tabletop, any suitable materials may be used, andvarious modifications may be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Whatis claimed is- 1. A table comprising a top, leaves connected withthe top and adapted to he folded In order to hold these pins in en-Vinto and out of operative position, said leaves having perforations intheir edges and arms movably connected with the top and adapted tosupport the leaves in their unfolded positions said arms having pins forengagement with the perforations of the leaves to hold them in theirfolded positions.

2. A table comprising a top, leaves hinged to the top and adapted to befolded to lie against the under side thereof, and to be unfolded to lieflush with the upper face of the table-top, sides hinged with respect tothe top and adapted for bodily movement .to lie beneath the leaves,supporting-arms for engagement with the leaves to hold them in theirfolded positions and means for supporting the leaves in their unfoldedpositions.

3. A table comprising a top, leaves hinged to the top, arms pivoted withrespect to the topto hold the leaves at one limit of their hingemovement, sides hinged with respect to the top and adapted forengagement with the arms to hold them in their operative positions, andmeans for holding the sides in their operative positions with respect tothe arms.

4. A table comprising a top, leaves hinged to the top and adapted to lieagainst the under side of the'top in folded position, and to lie inunfolded positions flush with the top, means for supporting the leavesin their unfolded positions, sides hinged with respect to the top, andsupporting-arms pivoted with respect to the top, said arms being adaptedto lie against the leaves and hold them in their unfolded positions andhaving means for engagement with the leaves to hold them in their foldedpositions.

5. A table comprising a top portion, braces connected to the under sideof the top, beams upon the braces, leaves hinged to the top and adaptedto fold and lie between the braces, sides hinged to the beams andadapted to lie below the leaves when they are in their folded positions,latches upon the braces for engagement with the sides to hold them inoperative positions with respect to the leaves, and arms pivoted withrespect to the top and adapted to lie upon the sides and support theleaves when the latter are in their unfolded positions.

6. A table comprising an angular rigid top having a plurality of leaveshinged at their edges to the top to move pivotally to lie flush with thetop at times and to lie beneath and with their under faces against theunder face of the top at other times, and a single means for engagementwith each leaf to hold it in both its folded and its unfolded positions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN IC. LONG. lVitnesses:

GEO. CHANDLER, M. PERRY HAHN.

IOO

